Universal Service Support Mechanisms

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress recognize that telephone service provides a vital link to emergency services, government services and surrounding communities. To help promote telecommunications service nationwide, the FCC, as directed by Congress and with the help of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), administers the federal Universal Service Fund (USF).

Programs

The federal USF pays for four programs. They are:

• Lifeline/Link Up. This program provides monthly discounts to qualifying low-income consumers for voice and broadband services on Tribal and non-Tribal lands. For additional information, see our consumer guide.
• High-Cost. This program ensures that consumers in all regions of the nation have access to telecommunications services at rates that are affordable and reasonably comparable to those in urban areas.
• Schools and Libraries. This program makes discounts available to eligible schools and libraries for eligible telecommunications services, Internet access and internal connections so that schools and libraries may have access to affordable telecommunications and information services. For additional information, see our consumer guide.
• Rural Health Care. This program seeks to improve the quality of health care available to patients in rural communities by ensuring that health care providers serving those communities have access to telecom and broadband services. For additional information, see our consumer guide at www.fcc.gov/guides/universal-service-program-rural-health-care-providers.

Who Pays for Universal Service?

All telecommunications service providers and certain other providers of telecommunications must contribute to the federal USF based on a percentage of their interstate and international end-user telecommunications revenues. These companies include wireline phone companies, wireless phone companies, paging service companies and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.

Some consumers may notice a “Universal Service” line item on their telephone bills. This line item appears when a company chooses to recover its USF contributions directly from its customers by billing them this charge. The FCC does not require this charge to be passed on to customers. Each company makes a business decision about whether and how to assess charges to recover its Universal Service costs. These charges usually appear as a percentage of the consumer’s phone bill. Companies that choose to collect Universal Service fees from their customers cannot collect an amount that exceeds their contribution to the USF. They also cannot collect any fees from a Lifeline program participant.

How Much Do Companies Contribute for Universal Service?

Companies contribute a certain percentage of the amount billed to their residential and business customers for interstate and international calls. The exact percentage that companies contribute is adjusted every quarter based on projected demand for Universal Service funding.

I Can’t Afford to Pay Full Price for Telephone Service. What Federal Programs Provide Financial Assistance?

• Lifeline provides discounts on monthly voice and broadband service (wireless or fixed) to qualifying low-income consumers.  Currently, qualifying low-income consumers can receive a discount of $9.25 per month on non-Tribal lands for voice or broadband services, and up to $34.25 per month on Tribal lands.
• Tribal Link Up helps low-income consumers living on Tribal lands with a one-time discount of up to $100 from facilities-based Lifeline service providers o initiating service for voice or broadband services.

Enhanced benefits are available to low-income residents of federally-recognized Native American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities.  For additional information see our consumer guide at www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/lifeline-support-affordable-communications#tribal.

Lifeline plans are available to qualifying consumers in every state, territory and commonwealth. You can contact fixed and wireless service providers serving your area for more information about these programs, including how to determine whether or not you qualify for discounts, and how to apply for discounts if you qualify. You also can contact your state public service commission for information. The contact information for your state public service commission can be found on the website of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, or in the blue pages or government section of your local telephone directory. To find the eligibility requirements for your state, visit the USAC website.

Does the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism Duplicate State and Local Efforts?

No. The FCC's Schools and Libraries program complements the efforts of states and localities to link the nation’s classrooms and libraries to the information superhighway. Universal Service support provides discounts only for telephone service, Internet access and internal connections. The discounts range from 20 to 90 percent, depending on the household income level of students in the community and whether the school or library is located in a rural or urban area.

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